BED EXTENDER
A bed extender having tubular first and second elongated arm connected together by a bed cross-member. The elongated arms and bed cross-member include tabs or other features for mounting to the bed of a vehicle. The bed extender also includes a rear slide assembly having elongated first and second slide members that slide in the first and second elongated arm. A vertical support extends upward from the ends of the slide members. The bed extender further includes a lock mechanism for locking the rear slide assembly into place in the first and second elongated arms. The vertical support structure includes first and second corner braces attached to the slide members. Up-tubes extend vertically from the corner braces, and a support arm extends across the up-tubes. A lower cross-member connect the first and second corner braces. The bed extender further includes an attachment feature for attaching ropes or similar devices to retain cargo in place.
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards a cargo extender for trucks and other vehicles having beds and which enables transportation of items that would otherwise be too long to be transported in a bed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOne very commonly used vehicle is the pickup truck. Like other trucks a pickup truck is designed to carry cargo. To do so a pickup has a truck cab where a driver and passengers sit and a truck bed that is located behind the cab and which is used to carry cargo. Pickup trucks are so successful that every year they are among the best-selling vehicle models.
Pickups trucks come in many different sizes, from small 4-cylinder compacts having, short beds to diesel-powered full size vehicles having extended beds that can carry tons of cargo. However, no matter how big a truck is or how long a truck bed may be, there are some items that may be too long for the truck bed. For example, room sized carpets, wood planks, steel beams, some plumbing supplies, ladders; all can be too long for a pickup truck to safely carry. As a specific example some ladders are over twelve feet long while many truck beds are only six to eight feet long. If such a ladder is transported in a truck having a short bed much of the ladder would extend over the truck bed and would be unsupported, which may lead to damage to either the truck bed or the ladder.
Compounding the problem of short beds is that pickup trucks having shorter beds are very popular. They are easier to handle and more maneuverable than trucks with longer beds. But, trucks with longer beds can carry more than trucks with short beds. The foregoing problem is not limited to pickup trucks. Other vehicles, such as vans and SUVs have beds for moving cargo. But, sometimes an item needing to be moved is just too long for the vehicle's bed.
There are devices that attach to truck beds that enable more cargo to be carried. However, such devices either do not permit long items to be carried or if they do they are difficult to use and can prevent a truck's tailgate from closing. Therefore, a device that enables a truck or other vehicle to carry items longer than the vehicles bed and that is easy to use would be beneficial. Even more beneficial would be such a device that collapses to fit the length of the bed while extending to enable carrying of long items. Even more beneficial would be a device that fits in a vehicle's bed, that extends out to allow carrying of long items, that collapses back into the bed and out of the way, and that is easy to use. Still more beneficial would be a device that fits in a vehicle's bed, that extends out to allow carrying of long items, that collapses back into the bed after use, that is easy to use, and that can be made at low cost using readily available materials.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe principles of the present invention provide for a device that fits in the bed of a truck or similar type vehicle, that extends out to allow carrying of long items, that collapses back into the bed after use, that is easy to use, and that can be made at low cost using readily available materials.
A bed extender in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a tubular first elongated arm and a tubular second elongated arm that are connected together by a bed cross-member. The elongated arms and bed cross-member include tabs or other features suitable for attaching those members to the bed of a vehicle. The bed extender also includes a rear slide assembly having an elongated first slide member that slides in the first elongated arm and an elongated second slide member that slides in the second elongated arm. Attached to the first and second slide members is a vertical support structure. The bed extender further includes a lock feature for locking the rear slide assembly into place relative to the first and second elongated arms and an attachment feature for receiving rope or other tie-downs to retain cargo in the bed.
The vertical support structure beneficially includes first and second corner braces that attach to the first and second slide members. Up-tubes extend vertically from the corner braces and a support arm extends across the up-tubes. A lower cross-member also extends between the first and second corner braces.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which one particular embodiment is shown. However, it should be understood that this invention may take many different forms and thus this invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. In the figures like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring now to
Refer to
The bed extender 10 takes a generally rectangular shape that is longer along the length of the bed 12 than along its width. The cross-member 24 is bolted to the bed 12 close to the rear of the cab 30 (see
Referring now to
From the foregoing it is apparent that the tabs 18, elongated arms 20, and cross-member 24 form a strong, solid bed mount that can be rigidly attached to the bed 12.
Turning now to
Still referring to
Referring now to
As there are two elongated arms 20 and slide tubes 46 (one on each side of the bed 12) there are two pins 106. Each pin 106 has a body 107 that can partially slide through the apertures 50 and 104 such that an aperture 110 through the body 107 is located outside of the elongated arm 20 while an expanded end 109 of the pin 106 extends from the other side of the elongated arm 20. The expanded end 109 is configured such that it cannot pass through the aperture 104. The aperture 110 allows a lock pin 116 to pass through the end of the pin 106.
Still referring primarily to
Referring once again to
The foregoing has referred to using “U” brackets 120 only where the apertures 50 and 104 align. However, this is not required. “U” brackets 120 can be added at any of the apertures 50 by using other pins 106. This provides variable attachment locations on the bed extender 10.
It is to be understood that while the figures and the above description illustrate the present invention, they are exemplary only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Others who are skilled in the applicable arts will recognize numerous modifications and adaptations of the illustrated embodiments that remain within the principles of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A bed extender, comprising:
- a tubular first elongated arm having a rigidly attached first tab with a first aperture for receiving a first bolt to attach said first elongated arm to a vehicle bed;
- a tubular second elongated arm having a rigidly attached second tab with a second aperture for receiving a second bolt to attach said second elongated arm to the vehicle bed;
- a bed cross-member rigidly connecting said first elongated arm to said second elongated arm and having a third aperture for receiving a third bolting to attach said cross-member to the vehicle bed;
- an elongated first slide member slidably inserted into said first elongated arm;
- an elongated second slide member slidably inserted into said second elongated arm;
- a vertical support structure attached to said first slide member and to said second slide member; and
- means for locking said first slide member to said first elongated arm.
22. A bed extender according to claim 21, wherein said vertical support structure comprises:
- a first corner brace attached to said first slide member;
- a second corner brace attached to said first slide member;
- a first up tube extending from said first corner brace;
- a second up tube extending from said second corner brace; and
- a support arm extending from said first up tube to said second up tube.
23. A bed extender according to claim 22, wherein said vertical support structure further includes a vertical support cross-member extending from said first corner brace to said second corner brace.
24. A bed extender according to claim 21, wherein said first tab is welded to said first elongated arm.
25. A bed extender according to claim 24, wherein said cross-member is welded to said first elongated arm.
26. A bed extender according to claim 21, wherein said cross-member is an “L” shaped angle iron having a flat lower plate.
27. A bed extender according to claim 26, wherein said first elongated arm and said second elongated arm cross-member rest on said flat lower plate.
28. A bed extender according to claim 21, wherein said first elongated arm includes a first pin aperture, said first slide member includes a second pin aperture, and said locking means includes a pin for passing through said first pin aperture and said second pin aperture.
29. A bed extender according to claim 21, wherein said first elongated arm includes an arm pin aperture, said first slide member includes a plurality of slide pin apertures, and said locking means includes a pin for passing through said first pin aperture and a selected slide pin aperture of said plurality of slide pin apertures.
30. A bed extender according to claim 21, further including a “U” shaped bracket attached to the first elongated arm for retaining cargo in place.
31. A bed extender according to claim 30, further including an attachment pin for attaching said “U” shaped bracket to said first elongated arm.
32. A bed extender, comprising:
- a tubular first elongated arm having a rigidly attached external first tab for receiving a first bolt for mounting said first elongated arm to a truck bed, said first elongated arm having a first aperture that passes through said first elongated arm in a direction perpendicular to its elongation;
- a tubular second elongated arm having a rigidly attached external second tab for receiving a second bolt for mounting said second elongated arm to the truck bed, said second elongated arm having a second aperture that passes through said second elongated arm in a direction perpendicular to its elongation;
- a cross-member rigidly connecting said second elongated arm to said first elongated arm, said cross-member including an aperture for receiving a bolt that mounts said cross-member to the truck bed;
- a rear slide assembly having a slide cross-member, a first corner brace connected to one end of said slide cross-member, a second corner brace connected to a second end of said slide cross member,
- an elongated first slide tube attached to said first corner brace and dimensioned to slide within said first elongated arm,
- an elongated second slide tube attached to said second corner brace and dimensioned to slide within said second elongated arm,
- wherein said first slide tube includes a first slide aperture that passes through said first slide tube in a direction perpendicular to its elongation, and wherein said second slide tube includes a second slide aperture that passes through said second slide tube in a direction perpendicular to its elongation;
- a first elongated pin having a body with a first pin aperture near one end and a first expansion near the other, said first elongated pin dimensioned such that said first elongated pin can pass through said first aperture and said first slide aperture such that said first pin aperture and said first expansion extend from opposite sides of said first elongated arm and such that said first expansion cannot pass through said first aperture; and
- a second elongated pin having a body with a second pin aperture near one end and a second expansion near the other, said second elongated pin dimensioned such that said second elongated pin can pass through said second aperture and said second slide aperture such that said second pin aperture and said second expansion extend from opposite sides of said second elongated arm and such that said second expansion cannot pass through said second aperture.
33. A bed extender according to claim 32, wherein said rear slide assembly further includes a first up tube extending vertically from said first corner brace, a second up tube extending vertically from said second corner brace, and a support arm extending between said first up tube and said second up tube.
34. A bed extender according to claim 32, further including a “U” shaped bracket attached to said bed extender with a pin.
35. A bed extender according to claim 32, wherein said cross-member is an “L” shaped angle iron having a flat lower plate.
36. A bed extender according to claim 35, wherein said first elongated arm and said second elongated arm cross-member rest on said flat lower plate.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 29, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2013
Inventors: DAVID ALEXANDER (MAYFIELD, KY), WILLIAM ROBERT CLARK (PADUCAH, KY)
Application Number: 13/172,821